DNR Letterhead

BILL ANALYSIS

BILL NUMBER:	HOUSE BILL 5416 (AS INTRODUCED)
TOPIC:	Allow use of rifles of .35 caliber or larger with straight-walled cartridges during firearm deer season
SPONSOR:	Representative Lori
CO-SPONSORS:	Representatives Lund, Kurtz, Calley, Opsommer, Pavlov, Daley, Proos, Tyler, Horn, Crawford, Caul, Booher, McMillin, Green, Agema, Marleau, Pearce, P. Scott, DeShazor, Stamas, Lahti, McDowell, Sheltrown, LeBlanc, Mayes, T. Brown, and Polidori
COMMITTEE:	Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources
Analysis Done:	October 23, 2009

POSITION

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) opposes this legislation.

PROBLEM/BACKGROUND

Michigan law currently allows for handguns of .35 caliber or larger and loaded with straight-walled cartridges to be used in the limited firearms area (shotgun zone). This proposed legislation would make a change to allow these cartridges, with limitations on casing size, to be fired from a rifle.

DESCRIPTION OF BILL

This bill would allow the use of .35 caliber or larger rifles loaded with straight-walled cartridges with a minimum case length of 1.16 inches and a maximum case length of 1.8 inches in the limited firearms area (shotgun zone).

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS

Pro

House Bill 5416 would allow for additional hunting opportunities for seniors or disabled hunters that are unable or unwilling to handle the recoil associated with shotguns loaded with slugs or buckshot.

Con

Due to their extended range, there is a perception that rifles would present a safety problem if used in the heavily populated areas of southern Michigan during the firearm deer hunting season. This proposed change is likely to result in more requests by counties and townships for hunting restrictions in populated counties.

Enforceability will be difficult. With a clear prohibition against the use of centerfire rifles in the shotgun zone for firearm deer hunting, the regulation is simple, easily understood and enforceable. Except for muzzleloading firearms, all rifles are prohibited for deer hunting in this area.

FISCAL/ECONOMIC IMPACT

Are there revenue or budgetary implications in the bill to the --

(a) Department

Budgetary:

None

Revenue:

Possible increase of license sales to individuals wishing to use these firearms.

Comments:

None

(b) State

Budgetary:

None

Revenue:

Possible increase to local economies via firearm and ammunition sales.

Comments:

None

(c) Local Government

Comments:

Possibility of more hunters afield, stimulating local economies.

OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS

N/A

ANY OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

Any movement to introduce exemptions for rifles chambering pistol cartridges would create unnecessary complexity and inconsistency in the regulation and would complicate enforcement immensely.

The Department has historically opposed this change in legislation out of concern that a rifle-hunting perception may cause more counties and townships to ask for additional, more restrictive local hunting controls.

The safety of rifle use in this “limited firearms” area continues to be a concern of the DNR. With declining opportunities for hunting in southern Michigan, we must take care to preserve and protect the opportunities that we have and not risk losing more land to hunting closures in this part of the state.